Boarding my dogs

[GypsysMom]

It saddens me to have to board my dogs this weekend, we had a death in the family and I can't trust anyone to watch them, my FIL has dogs but him and his GF are not the best people when it comes to common sense, my DH said I would come home to a dead puppy if they watched her, I have boarded Chopper when he was 8 months old and he did fine, does anyone think boarding Gypsy is ok? I mean I have no choice, and hopefully I can get her to the vet to get her bordetella

[giglz15]

I HATE boarding my dogs. I work in a vets office and it just pisses me off to see the dogs sit in a kennel all day with 2 walks thats all. My old place of employment put my sheltie and my rottie in a cage together for a week. The cage was barely big enough for the rot let alone both, plus they were fully housetrained and it took me a week of training to get them to stop peeing in the house. They just weren't getting out enough. If I would have known this I would have had my gramma watch them. I wouls just research the place you are boarding very well. Ask to see the kennels.

[GypsysMom]

Luckily for me it will only be overnight they will go Sunday afternoon until monday Afternoon, the lady lives near me and has a small based kennel I think the sizes are 4x6 and they wont be together they get the 2 walks but thats ok since I will only be gone a short time and with Chopper he sleeps from 8pm until 8am everyday so he wont miss me too much. The last kennel I took him to was ok they had to put him on the ground floor since he refused to climb stairs

[Cherry Heart]

I am sure they will be fine with it being such a short amount of time. Arwen has stayed with friends of ours twice now and did great, once for a week and another time for 3 days. She comes home the same dog. It may be a bit more expensive, but there are some "doggy hotels". If it was me and I was going for a week, I would take her to the hotel (I found a nice place when we were looking to go to Cali for a week), but for a one night stay, the kennel should be fine.

[Rhea's Mom]

According to my boss (not that he's an expert, but he's owned dogs all his life, mostly GSPs and I trust his opinion) there's a good kennel called Shores Kennel (info below). My boss travels from time to time and when he can't take his dogs (he had 4 until last week, Eddy, his oldest, died) with him, he puts them there. He highly recommends this place (but I think it's a bit too far from you). I'm sure both, Chopper & Gypsy, will do fine in a kennel, especially since it's not such a long stay. You can tell them you were referred to them by him, if you'd like. His name is Albert Mickalich. (And I'm sorry to hear about the death in the family...)

Shores Kennel
33633 Harper Avenue, Clinton Township, MI 48035
(586) 293-1429

[GypsysMom]

Thanks Yeah that is a drive and out of the way, We were expecting the death since she has been iLL for some time still the same I hate funerals This lady where Im going has been doing it for some time and is quite reasonable on her prices, Im glad I can get them into the vet today for the bordetella Gypsy needed it anyhow for puppy classes and Ob.

[flyballmom]

Sorry about the death...expected is still never easy

I don't like boarding my dogs either. I'm lucky, my agility trainer does boarding and that's where'd they'd go if they had to. That said...Charleigh was boarded a few times at a kennel and did fine. Make sure your dogs are in separate kennels from any other dogs, make sure the runs are clean (as best they can be.) Take a blanket from home for each dog and a toy or two. They'll be fine.

[damp]

First …sorry for your loss!

Of course, it’s OK to board a dog (and even a pup for a weekend and shorter times) in a GOOD kennel.
Actually, it’s a good way for pups to gain self-assurances and confidence, not always being in usual surrounding with know people!

[spoiledbabies3]

Gypsy'smom...I am so sorry to hear about the death in your family, expected or not it is never easy. Please accept my sincere condolences.

I do not normally board my dogs, however, if they are being boarded for a short period of time you should be all right. When I travel, I have a petsitter come into my home...and she spends the night with the rotts. It took lots of time and diligence to find a good one, but it finally paid off. A little pricier than a boarding facility but well worth every penny! That said, if you are going to board them, be sure and leave something that smells like home with them. When I leave (even though they stay at the house) I leave an old t-shirt that I slept in for them to keep. My 5 yo carries it around the house and uses it as his comfort zone. A blanket will also do, but I have learned if the item has my scent they do much better. They must all be momma's babies! However, be prepared that when you return the item you left could be shredded and destroyed...this has happened also in my house... that's why I suggested an OLD T-SHIRT! Good luck and again I am so sorry for your family loss. (BTW...if you have time, leave 2 t-shirts, one for Gypsy and one for Chopper...I usually have to leave 3 in my house...if they each have one there's no issue over who gets it when ).

[spoiledbabies3]

How did Chopper and little Gypsy do while boarding this weekend? Was Mom more worried than they were?